Glass Blenny ID

Posted July 8th, 2014 by Starshyne13

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I was diving in Key Largo this past weekend, and much to my surprise, I came across a glass blenny on a night dive. It was on brain coral, and hiding to some exent under a Christmas Tree worm. At first, I thought it was a flagfin glass blenny. However, it does not have cirri above each eye.

Is it possible that this is a smoothhead glass blenny or a red banner blenny? it does appear to have a bar at the base of the pectoral fin, suggesting a female red banner blenny. However, Key Largo would seem far out of the range for either of these two species, according to the new Reef Fish ID book.

The blenny was on Mike's Wreck (Hannah Bell) on Elbow Reef. Approximately 20 feet deep, around 9:30 PM, water 84 degrees.

Thanks for the input Barb. I looked up darkheaded blenny in the new fish id book (4th edition), but it wasn't there. Upon reviewing the description in the 3rd edition, I realized that what was a darkheaded blenny is now part of the smoothhead blenny complex.